Tea Time with Hannah

There's no doubting that finals week transforms students into different types of consumers. Some words to define the time between thanksgiving break and christmas break are stressful, busy, swamped, hectic, tiring, and confusing. During this period of time, students are not only low on sleep, but also low on money and time. Running between classes and group meetings and presentations leaves little time for students to shop, even though the christmas season brings about one of the busiest shopping times of the year.  So as a marketer looking for ways to increase brand recognition and company sales during the holiday season, what strategies are best for capitalizing on the stress of finals week for the college student population?  1. Make purchasing your project or service easy and time efficient.   If students don't have enough time to purchase your product, they won't. Consider opening your store for longer hours, having midnight sales, online sales to entice...

Amazon recently released a new product simply known as the Amazon Key. In an attempt to solve the issue of deliveries being stolen from door steps and mailboxes, the Amazon Key allows Amazon delivery workers to enter the house and drop the package off inside. To some, this seems like a great way to protect their incoming packages. To others, this seems like a great way to let a thief into your home. So which side are you on? Here's some information that could sway your decision. To start, a recent survey indicated that more than 50% of Amazon Prime members stated that they "definitely would not buy this product." This survey was taken soon after the release of the Amazon Key and thus it has to be remembered that it often takes time for an innovative product such as this to be accepted. Although this data that a majority of Amazon members would definitely not use this product is scary, it might not be accurate until the Amazon Key has thoroughly entered the market. ...

After a weekend spent in Elijay, Georgia visiting a friend, I became aware of truly how popular fall activities can be. Known for their apple houses and beautiful mountainous views, Elijay attracts thousands of tourists every day seeking to create fall themed memories with their friends and families. Apple orchards, pumpkin patches, sunflower fields, petting zoos, corn mazes and much more attract visitors from all over to line the streets with their cars and the fields with their cameras. If I'm being honest, I don't actually love these types of activities. I love being outside, and I love the mountains of North Georgia, but navigating through crowds of little children and stressed parents all to look at some fields of fruits and vegetable is not my idea of a fun time. However, every year I get suckered into visiting pumpkin patches and apple farms and corn mazes because these activities aren't available year round and so I can't miss this one opportunity. Th...

Out of all the social media platforms, Twitter proves to be the best place for brands to express their less serious sides. In 140 characters, a brand can test out a punch-line and express the light-hearted personality behind their products and services. It's an easy way to go viral, communicate directly with customers, and offer hits at competitors without seeming vicious. Here's a list of some of the brands doing the best job on Twitter: 1. Wendy's:  Their bio is " We like our tweets the same way we like to make hamburgers: better than anyone expects from a fast food joint."....nothing more needs to be said.  2. Taco Bell:  A subtle, yet consistent player on Twitter. Not as memorable as Wendy's, but definitely an active member of the conversations surrounding their brand. 3. Old Spice:  Their brand is all about weird yet accurate descriptions of a simple product: deodorant. Their twitter continues this trend including their bio: "Drop-kicki...

There's no doubt about the popularity of Apple. In a classroom at UGA filled with middle to upper-class students, it's safe to guess that over 75% of them own an iPhone. A majority of these students also own a MacBook and someone in their family probably has an iPad. Apple has clearly dominated the technology industry in the past. At the beginning of time when the iPhone first hit the market, its technology and its sleek design dominated a market of clunky, boring devices. The iPhone was cool, new, and advanced. If you had one, you were an innovator, a leader, someone who had money and liked to think they had power too. The current problem Apple faces, however, is that their competitors have begun to catch up. No longer are they the only business with smartphones and touchscreens. No longer are they the brand associated with the innovators and creators. Instead, Apple has seemingly clung on to their history of success while their competitors begin to develop new innova...

There's no denying it, Family Feud is amazing. Steve Harvey's facial expressions coupled with ridiculous answers from honest, American families make for the most hilarious game show on TV. I'm not the only one who tunes in to watch answers like this every night. In June 2015, Family Feud  surpassed Wheel of Fortune  as the most-watched syndicated game show on television. The show's popularity continues to increase as Steve Harvey and America's funniest families create ridiculously funny answers to survey questions. What marketing techniques can Family Feud credit to this success? To start, Family Feud created a spin-off called Celebrity Family Feud which, you'll be shocked, is Family Feud with celebrities as the contestants. Although it seems like a relatively simple TV ratings enhancer, Celebrity Family Feud also acts as a great marketing tool for the overall Family Feud franchise. By capitalizing on the most popular celebrities at the time for ...

It occurred to me over the weekend, as I stood in the heat surrounded by 70,000 of my closest friends in Piedmont Park, that crowds attract crowds. It's a weird phenomenon. Shouldn't people want to run away from crowds? When it's 90 degrees outside, shouldn't people seek shade far, far away from anyone else? Here are a few examples: 1. Food Tents : With over 70,000 people packing into Piedmont Park for Music Midtown, a small amount of brave food vendors stood ready to feed the masses. Many tents didn't represent a specific food brand, they were simply labeled based on the food that they served such as "Chicken Tenders and Fries". Still, crowds of people hovered around these tightly packed tents like hungry vultures. While waiting in the back of a long pizza line, I noticed the tent next to it was completely empty and selling similar food. Why were we all waiting in this huge line then? It occurred to me that without knowing the brand of the foo...

I love coffee shops. There's something about the aura of a coffee shop that makes me feel so relaxed and somehow inspired to actually do that studying I've been putting off for days. It's a mixture of the caffeine in the drinks and the energy from people enjoying a conversation or tackling an assignment that creates that special coffee shop buzz. Sips, located on Prince Avenue, just across the street from Automatic Pizza and Ike & Jane, has perfected that classic and quaint coffee shop experience. At first glance, the location looks a bit out of place in a parking lot surrounded by a Spanish grocery store and a Mexican restaurant. However, a deeper look shows a brightly colored exterior and large, open windows that entice even the slightest of hipsters to purchase an overpriced Americano. The interior consists of a large, patio-styled room where coffee drinkers can enjoy some fresh air and a small shop, with a bar area inside for ordering and a kitchen area for s...

It's a bit ironic that "Normaltown" was named "Normal"town. Quite frankly, there's nothing normal about it. A stranger passing through might glance at the antique buildings, the old rusty signs, and the unique mom-and-pop style brands and wonder how these businesses survive in the competitive Athens market. But any local Athens resident will contest that these businesses are what makes this small, eclectic city so wonderful.  Located off Prince Ave, across the street from Athens Regional Medical Center, Ike & Jane quietly sits on the corner location creating an aroma of freshly baked goods and hand crafted coffees perfect for the Instagram loving foodie. Calling Athens home for over 7 years, this local business serves up uniquely flavored donuts as well as classic cafe treats that attract residents and visitors of all ages. My first thought before my visit was: In the world of dominating brands such as Starbucks and Jittery Joes, how does Ike &...

If you've ever logged on to Facebook, you've probably seen the endless array of videos and pictures from restaurants all over the world showcasing their specialty food and drink selections. From unique, mouthwatering desserts to craft-fully designed cappuccinos, the internet is overflowing with people showing off their unique treats. So how can small, local restaurants capitalize on this social media trend? 1. Encourage people to "check-in" at your restaurant.  A great form of free advertising is when consumers "check-in" to your location on social media and share with all of their friends the great experience they had. Make sure that your business has a location on google that people can use this feature with, and consider setting up a promotion that encourages customers to use it. 2. Pictures speak louder than words.  Instead of trying to explain to customers why they should visit your business, show them! Take quality images of your best food creation...